METHODS
Arts integration is a way to enhance student learning and engagement. Through music
and movement, the arts allow students to learn the material in new ways, develop cognitive
skills, and make personal connections to their learning (Gullatt, 2008). Movement can aid in the
brain’s ability to focus and process information (Reilly et al.). Music enhances learning,
especially for young children. Through songs and chants music can engage students and deepen
their understanding of the concepts (Reif & Grant, 2010). The arts can add interest and
motivation for students while also helping students develop creativity, critical thinking skills, and
problem-solving skills. However, because of budget cuts and focus on standardized testing the
arts often get less focus in schools. Along with this, teachers often feel unprepared to teach arts
in their classrooms because of lack of time, the pressure to raise test scores, or lack of materials
and support (Andrews, 2016). To aid teachers feeling pressured for time or feel unconfident in
the arts, I am creating resources that teachers can refer to and implement into their lessons.
Using the website, Weebly, I will set up and create a website with arts-integrated
activities and lessons geared for first grade curriculum. The website will be a resource for
teachers to refer to and incorporate the arts into their lessons. Movement, dance, and song will be
the main media used for the activities. The materials posted on the website will align with core
curriculum standards in the areas of English language arts, math, science, and social lessons.
The idea of this website is to give teachers an available resource to use in their
classrooms and refer to as needed. The songs and activities will hopefully encourage teachers to
use the arts and will help save them time by having already created resources at their fingertips. I
also hope that as teachers use these ideas, they will feel more comfortable using the arts and that
it will inspire them to teach the arts more frequently. I believe teachers will see more
engagement, participation and joy in learning from their students as they use ideas from the
website.
I will move forward by obtaining IRB approval after the proposal meeting and plan to
have the project completed and defended by the end of the summer term. To have my website
analyzed, I will send the link to two experts this summer; I will send the website link to two
elementary school teachers who have backgrounds in the arts. I will ask for feedback as to how I
can supplement, revise, or edit my website. There are so many ways to integrate the arts into
lessons, both small and large, and having a website with many resources will encourage teachers
to integrate the arts and see the reach of the benefits to both students and teachers.